Science in Society

History of Science, Science in Society, Science Art & Illustration, Science in Fiction, Science Issues & Philosophy, Skepticism, Science Book & Film Reviews, Pseudoscience Criticism, “Myth Busting,” Humour Science Careers, Career Development, Journalism, Academia, Publishing, Ethics, Funding, Archeology, Social Anthropology

Sponges – one of the earliest forms of multicellular life.

Staffan Lindgren Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Science in Society
I wrote this blog for the Nature Nanaimo newsletter published July 10, 2022. This is a slightly modified version. Photo Neil McDaniel, https://blueocean.net/glass-sponge-reefs-living-fossils-found-off-canadian-coast/ An excellent article by Sheila Byers about the unique glass sponge reefs that occur in the Salish Sea and the Hecate Strait appeared in the spring 2022 of BC Nature Magazine, and...

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You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone!

Staffan Lindgren Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Science in Society
A blog about senses. Doesn’t that look good? It was a meal I ordered in Port Hardy a few years ago. It looked good, and it tasted good. To determine that, you would use four of your five senses. We mostly take our senses for granted as we grow up. Once in a while I have given some thought in passing about how much more difficult life would be if I lost my sight or…

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How to go about mining in Nova Scotia?

Elisabeth Kosters Environmental and Earth Sciences, Science in Society
In my previous blog post, I criticized the Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS) for displaying a lack of environmental, social and cultural awareness. I received many positive reactions, but not from MANS of course. Its executive director Sean Kirby responded with an all too familiar sounding broken-record statement. That weak response, displaying a lack of deeper insight, is exactly why I have a problem with MANS. But of course I shouldn’t expect anything else…

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Stories about some of my (favourite) photographs

Staffan Lindgren Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Science in Society
Photography used to be a rather hit and miss affair for several reasons. When I first started trying my hand at photography, skill requirements were light years more demanding than with today’s digital cameras. An average iPhone today takes better general photographs than many of the SLR’s I used as a teenager. Back then, the number of times I received developed photographs that were all under- or over-exposed, or out of focus is something I…

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Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS): Bullying, Propaganda, and a complete disregard for threatened natural habitats.

Elisabeth Kosters Environmental and Earth Sciences, Science in Society
Last week I attended the virtual “Nova Scotia Precious and Critical Mineral Show” of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia (MANS). It was a technical symposium of two half days, each of which was introduced by a government official. The Monday morning was kicked off by brand new Minister of Natural Resources Tory Rushton and the Tuesday morning by Director of the NS Geological Survey Diane Webber (the only woman of the event). There were…

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“Canadian company @Recon_Africa drills for oil in the Okavango delta”

Elisabeth Kosters Environmental and Earth Sciences, Science in Society
This title is paraphrased from several headlines over the last few months. There was public outrage over the fact that Recon Africa was allowed to drill in elephant migratory territory in northeastern Namibia. Much was also written about the company being suspected of being dishonest about its objectives and basis for investment. The Globe and Mail’s Geoffrey York (@geoffreyyork) wrote no fewer than four articles about the issue (here, here, here and here; all other…

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Do’s and Don’ts / Save Owl’s Head

Elisabeth Kosters Environmental and Earth Sciences, Science in Society
Third essay for Nova Scotia Premier @IainTRankin and Minister of Environment and Climate Change @KeithIrvingNS on the issue of the government’s theft and illegal sale of Owl’s Head Provincial Park —– Many of us have watched “My Octopus Teacher”, a stunningly beautiful documentary of free diver and film maker Craig Foster and his encounters with a female octopus in the kelp forests off the eastern Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The documentary was…

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Canada’s 2021 budget and science

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
As more than one observer has noted, this April 19, 2021 budget is the first in two years. Predictably, there has been some distress over the copious amounts of money being spent to stimulate/restart the economy whether it needs it or not. Some have described this as a pre-election budget. Overall, there seems to be more satisfaction than criticism. Maybe a little prescient? After mentioning some of the government’s issues with money (Phoenix Payroll System…

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